Cross-posted from Google Cloud Platform BlogGoogle Cloud Platform is used around the world to create and deploy solutions that are affordable, scalable and easy to maintain. These qualities empower developers worldwide to solve local and global challenges with cloud technology . This sets the stage for the very first Google Cloud Platform Developer Challenge. We’re inviting you to build locally relevant web applications that solve real world problems. You will have the opportunity to “WOW” the world with your awesome web application built on Google App Engine using Google APIs like the Google+, YouTube and Maps APIs.

The competition starts September 4th, 2013 with the first round of submissions starting on the October 22nd, 2013. The categories for this challenge are

Enterprise/Small Business Solutions , Education, Not for Profit

Social / Personal Productivity/Games / Fun

Submissions will be accepted from any one of six regions across the world:

The Form+ team, one of the winners of last year's Google Apps Developer Challenge

If your application is judged the best in your region, within one of the two categories mentioned above, you could win a prize of $20,000! We are devoted to raising the next generation of information technology experts as well as encouraging diversity among software developers. In line with this, we have special prizes for all-female teams -- $2,000 and $1,000 dollars for ‘all-student teams’ that make the second round. Any ‘all female student team’ that makes the second round will receive a prize of $3,000. There are also prizes available for those who are interested in mentoring contestants.Please read through the terms and conditions on the Google Cloud Platform Developer Challenge page and follow the hashtag #gcdc on Google+ for any additional updates.What are you waiting for? Register your gcdc2013-.appspot.com - apply for $2,000 worth of Google Cloud Platform credit atcloud.google.com/starterpack using the promo code: gcpdc-in, and start hacking with Google Cloud Platform!Posted by Chukwuemeka Afigbo, Program Manager